Unknown texter asks P2M from town’s police chief

CEBU, Philippines - The police chief of Medellin town admits he has been receiving text messages from an unidentified texter asking him for P2 million in exchange of the release of the 17-year-old boy who escaped from the police station last April under his watch.

Chief Inspector Fructuoso Lim said that person texted him a few days after the escape of Jessie Allomado Jr., of Barangay Kawit, demanding money from him if he wants to be cleared of the allegation against him.

“Ingun nga kung gusto ka makuha nimo si Jessie mangayo siya og P2M pero akong giingnan nga wa pa ko maboang asa gud tawn ko anang P2M,” Lim told The FREEMAN in a phone interview.

Since Lim could not give the said amount, the texter lowered the amount to P200,000 as initial payment.

Thinking that it could be a modus operandi against him, Lim tried to call the number but was out of reach.

It was around the last week of April when the person last texted Lim. Lim said that he informed the family of Allomado but they allegedly did not show concern about it.

“Mura og wala na man lang pud sila mangita sa ilang anak kay mura ra man og wala nila,” he said, adding that until now they do not have any whereabouts of the escapee.

Charges for robbery with frustrated homicide against Allomado were supposed to be arraigned yesterday morning but since the complainant and the suspect were not around, it was rescheduled.

Allomado allegedly escaped from the office of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk of  the police station while police were preparing documents for the release of the minor from their custody.

But the parents of the boy complained before the Office of  the Ombudsman-Visayas that Lim allegedly asked the boy to run errands including buying him cigarettes outside the station.

This was denied by Lim saying he could not afford to let a detainee escape when they had a hard time arresting him. (FREEMAN)